"What in the world are those?!" Ace gasped in shock.
"Giant mosquitoes!" Taro answered, remembering the numerous times he saw them on earth. Way smaller of course.
"We call them carriers of death! We have to get out of here, come on!" Xena shouted, while clutching Taro's upper arm so hard that it hurt.
"Ouch!" Taro shouted, pulling his eyes off of the massive swarm that was coming towards them.
"Come on, come on!" She shouted with urgency as a single one of the giant bugs came right at them into the cave. Just as the creatures blood sucking snout came at them, Xena sprinted out of the corner entrance of the cave, while pulling Taro along with her and Ace running right behind them. Once they were completely clear from the cave, Xena finally released Taro's arm as the three ran for their lives. Taro, breathed a quick sigh from the pain relieved. He took a second to quickly glance at his arm to see Xena's painful nail prints embedded there. As he began rubbing it, he suddenly realized he made a big mistake for not focusing on his surroundings, as he heard a sharp buzzing directly behind him. Just as he was about to turn to look, he heard Xena call out to him.
"Taro, look out!"
His head shot over to her just as she threw something that looked like a rock. He then heard a painful squeal behind him from whatever it was she it. He turned to see a giant mosquito falling to the ground. He didn't stop to see whether it would get back up. It was at least several minutes before they finally stopped to rest when all the buzzing sounds finally died out into the distance. Taro and Ace stood panting a moment from running to their limit. Xena, on the other hand, just stood glaring at them with her hands placed on her hips and didn't seem the least bit out of breath. After giving them a moment to catch their breath, she crossed her arms and starred at them very sternly. After giving her a confused look Ace and Taro were about to ask her what was the matter now, when she beat them to it.
"What's the matter with you idiots, are you trying to get us all killed?!"
Taro, looked at her in disbelief, while wondering how she could possibly be blaming them for what just happened. "What do you mean by th-?"
"I mean, lighting up those rocks! Anyone with half a brain should know that many creatures are attracted to bright light. What are you, learning impaired, or something?!"
"You can't blame us!" Ace's blood was now boiling. "It's not like you ever warned us about what was out there…if it's anyone's fault, it's-"
"Mine, I suppose?!" Xena finished for him taking a few steps closer. "I never heard "you" asking, about what kind of precautions to take for any existing risk, which any "responsible" person would have!"
"Why didn't I ask?" Ace asked in utter disbelief. "Why should I have asked, if there were man eating, blood sucking, giant bug like creatures, which closely resemble earth mosquitoes, infesting the planet, and which are also attracted to the smallest amount of light?!"
Without saying another word, the infuriated Xena gritted her teeth and hissed at the ultra, obviously wanting to tar him limb from limb. But, Ace didn't back down. He crossed his arms and stood his ground, with his anger equaling hers, though not so publically displayed. He stood staring at her fearlessly, almost daring her to make a move. She looked like she was about ready to, when Taro stepped in between them.
"Stop this! Both of you!" Taro demanded forcefully looking from one to the other. "Fighting isn't going to solve anything! No one is to blame for what happened, alright?" Ace and Xena both looked at each other, but didn't say anything. "The important thing is we're all still alive, so let's just leave it at that."
After a pause, Xena spoke in a lower, but still serious voice, "He's right." She felt Taro's gaze on her but ignored it. "We accomplished our goal…and that's all that matters."
"So…"Ace started, "what happens, now?"
It suddenly dawned on Taro that he hadn't given that any thought. Mainly because, he didn't think they would even get this far. Obviously, now that he was better, he and Ace would be able to return home as if nothing ever happened. But, what about Xena? …After all they've been through, could he really just leave her and forget about her. Would she forget about him? Surely, that moment they had in the cave meant something. Taro was suddenly pulled out of his train of thought, when Ace placed a hand up in order for silence, while looking the other way. Great…now, what?!
"Do you guys hear something?" We all listened and heard footsteps coming this way. "Someone's coming!"
"Quick!" Xena urged in a yelling whisper. "Get in the bushes, and don't come out no matter what happens."
"What did she mean by that?" Taro thought as he and Ace hid.
With stealth, Xena climbed up a tree and hid in the branches, while waiting for whoever it was to come closer. All Taro and Ace could see was a dark shadowy figure walking through the woods, they couldn't make out any other features, except that they were wearing some sort of helmet. As Taro tried to get a better look, he accidentally stepped on a branch. The figures head immediately snapped in their direction. Taro and Ace held their breath as the mysterious figure slowly began to approach. Then before they knew what happened Xena jumped down from the tree and pounced on the dark figure. He hit the ground with Xena squatting over him. She delivered several bullet punches to his head, before he grabbed her fist and using one leg kicked her in the gut pushing her backward. With great speed the figure jumped to his feet and got into a fighting stance. She charged him first and did a full round house kick which he ducked under. He then threw a quick left and right cross, both of which she blocked. Xena, kicked him hard straight in the chest knocking him back into a tree. Then without a moment's hesitation, the figure reached to his side and pulled out a long shiny object. A ninja sword!
Raising the sword high with both hands he sprinted forward and swung it at Xena's head twice with lightning speed. She arched her back, missing the blade by mere inches. As he was about to bring it straight down on her she grabbed where his hands were on the sword and kneed him right in the groin, causing him to let out a cry of pain as he sunk to his knees. She kicked him in the head knocking him backward and grabbing his sword from him, held it up to his neck making him freeze. It was at this moment that he got the chance to closely look her over and was shocked.
"Xena?…is it really you?"
Author note: I'm so sorry for how long it took me to finally update, and I hope you forgive me. In the future I'll try to update more regularly. Thank you, for being so wonderfully patient, and thank you for reading!